Automatic humidifying device



Sept. 18, 1928. 1,684,757

W. B. COLEMAN AUTOMATIC HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: l N V EN TOR:

6 g William B. fibleman,

BY p M y r ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 18, 1928. 1,684,757 w. B. COLEMAN AUTOMATIC HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25. 1 21. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 b fig N N Q Q R N WITNES: INVENTOR:

Z M Williamz flbleman,

g1 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM B. COLEMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC HUMIDIFYING DEVICE.

Application filed August 25, 1921. Serial No. 495,391.

My invention relates to a device more especially useful in humidifying atmospheric air which is to be'intermingled with hydrocarbonaceousvapors in order to enhance the etticiency of the combustible mixture.

The primary object of my'invention is to secure addition of a proper percentage of moisture to air used in carburization of liquid fuels. and this, regardless of variations in the speed of the motor supplied, and moreover, independently of variations in atmospheric conditions during different periods of the day, or even of the greater variations incidental to seasonal changes. This desideratum I obtain 13 by aid of a humidifying device interposed in an air intake conduit for the carbureter, and by admitting to said intake. under automatic thermostatic control, either fresh or preheated air, or both, in proper proportions to secure a predetermined constant temperature of such degree in the air stream as to be conduciveto the absorption of a definite amount or percentage of moisture by the air in its passages through the humid fyingdeviceen route to the carbureter.

Other objects and attendant advantages of luv invention will become. readily apparent from the detailed description which follows:

In the drawings,.Fig. I is an illustration showing my invention applied to an internal combustion motor of standard construction, certain portions of the organization being broken away and in sections so as to set forth some of the important details to better advantagc.

Fig. II is a longitudinal sectional VlPW OII an enlarged scale, showing the construction of the thermostat which forms a part of my,

humidii'yingdevice; and I Fig. III is a sectional elevation of the same vie whd in the direction of the arrows IIIIII in Fig. II.

In the organization herein represented 1 designates the carburetor from which the carbureted fuel is drawn into the cylinders of the internal combustion motor through the intake manifold 2. The carburetor 1, it Wlll be noted, is of standard construction and its inlet neck 3 is communicative with a conduitindicated comprehensively in the draw ng by the numeral 4. This conduit 4 has interposed in it, at a point where intercepted by the veg tical branch 5 of the exhaust plpe 6, an auxiliary heater jacket'i', and, directly ad acent to said jacket, a humidifier 8.

The humidifier 8 comprises a casing 9 which is preferably cylindrical in form and closed at the top by a removable cover or screw cap 1Q. 'Io thls cap 10 is appended an elongated Wick of highly absorbent porous material 11 having an extensive surface area and capable of holding a comparatively large volume of water. For this purpose I prefer to employ in practice, a sponge which substantially fills the humidifier 8 when saturated and dips into water maintained in the reservoir at the bottom of the casing 9. As a result of this arrangement the air flowing through th conduit 4 is obliged to penetrate the sponge 11 and in passing through the pores of the latter absorbs more or less moisture depending upon its temperature. The moisture thus ex tract-ed from the sponge 11 by the passing air is constantly and automatically replenished through capillary action of said sponge in drawing the water from the reservoir casmg 9.

Directly to the left of the casing 9 of the humidifier 8, the conduit 4 has formed in it an enlargement 12 for accommodation of a thermostat 13, which comprises an eXpansible corrugated drum 14: closed at its ends by disk heads 15 and 16 respectively. The latter head 16 has a threaded, rearwardly projecting, axial boss 1.7 engaging Withina correspondingly threaded receiving aperture of a. supporting bar 18 which extends crosswise of the conduit4. This construction affords a means whereby the thermostat 13 may be bodily shifted axially, for a'purpose which will become obvious from further description. The adjustments of the thermostat 13 are fixable through the instrumentality of ajamb nut shown at 19. The disk head 16 also has at the opposite side, an axial extension in the form of a sleeve 20 serviceable a guide for an aligning pin 21 extending rearwardly from the disk head 15. The head 15 is thus sustained against undue axial displacement in the course'of the expansion and contraction of the corrugated drum l4. In order to allow of ready introduction of a quantity of volatile liquid such as ordinarily used in thermostats of this type, the boss 17 is formed with an axial passage 22 which communicates with a transverse opening in an enlargement 23 which is integral with theextension 20 previously referred toi The stem 21 is pierced by an aperture 25 so as to afford a free passage through that end of said stem which engages within the portion 26 of the bore of the sleeve 20. After the drum 1% has been charged as n 15 of said drum.

plate and has at opposite ends trunnions which have bearing in the side Walls of the valve casing which, in the instance illustrated, is an integralcontinuation of the conduit 4. The'va'ive 30 serves to control simultaneously admission to the conduit 4:, of cold air from a fiexiblebranch tube 33 and hot air from a second branch tube 34:. These tubes 2-33, 3 1 communicate with the main conduit 4 at right angles and their ends are secured within laterally disposed branches 35 of said conduit as clearly suggested in the illustrations. The cold air tube 33 extends pret'erably to some point beyond the engine hood so as to be uninfluenced by the heat of the engine, while the hot air tube 34 extends to a preheater jacket 36 which partially surrounds the horizontal portion of the exhaust pipe (3. As shown in Fig. I, the preheater 36 has openings at opposite ends for the influx ot' the airQthe latter being quickly and materially raised in temperature by contact with the hot manifold.

In operation, a mixture of cold and hot air is drawn into the conduit 4 through the branches 33 and 34 under control of the throttle valve 30. The thermostat 13 is adjusted in practice, to properly govern the action of the throttle valve 30 so that the temperature-of the air stream which passes into-the humidifier 8 is maintained at a predetermined constantpoint. By such pre ordination of the temperature, only a. definite amountof percentage of moisture is taken up by the air in passing through the saturated sponge 11. After being thus humidified to the desired degree, the air passes on and through the auxiliary heater 7 as a result of which its temperature is raised somewhat preparatory to entering the carburetor 1. From this point on, the action. of carburization proceeds in a manner well understood and need not, therefore, be explained in detail herein.

From the above, it will be seen that the air employed in carburization in accordance with my invention, is delivered to the carburetor 1 in a humidified condition; and moreover that after being properly set, the automatically operative humiditying device is practically immune against the influence of variations or changes in external atmospheric conditions, and will function to maintain the desired degree of humidity constant regardless of variations in the volume of the air required at different speeds of the motor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In an automatically regulated humiditying apparatus for the air supply of an internal combustion engine, a humidifier, an intake conduit for said humidifier having hot and cold air inlet branches, a valve inversely controlling said branches whereby to proportion the relative amounts of hot and cold air entering said conduit, a thermostat in said conduit and actuated by the temperature prevailing therein, a connection between said thermostat and said valve whereby to automatically maintain a predetermined temperature of air in said conduit, an outlet conduit for said humidifier, and a superheater in said outlet conduit whereby to maintain the air supply delivered therefrom at above the pointof saturation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, this 23rd day of August, 1921.

TVILLIAM B. COLEMAN. 

